CATHOLICS: Do your religious beliefs affect your political leanings?

Question

I am a Liberal, and I attribute this political stance to my early Catholic education. I wonder if this is the case for others?

Answer 1

Oh yes they effect my political leanings very much so. It would be hard to truly be a be Catholic (and understand our teachings) and not be liberal I say. If you listen to any of the Social Justice Teachings at all: Participation, Global Solidarity, Care for Creation, Community, Preferential Option for the Poor, Right and Responsibilties, Human Dignity.

Economic Justice, Liberation Theology, A Place at the Table for all. This makes me so proud to be Catholic.

Tons of Encyclicals and letters years of social teachings. Dorothy Day, Dan and Phil Berrigan, Roy Bourgeious, Oscar Romero, Samuel Ruiz, Ernesto Cardenal, Kathy Kelly, Helen Prejean and the list goes on and on.

EDIT:It is apparent by most of the answers most Catholics do not understanding our teachings of the Church, they are not suppose to vote on one issue. Or that they truely understand what pro-life really means.

Answer 2

PLEASE understand the only reason I am sharing these hate filled letters from "Catholics" with you is so that some that need to will see what fruits the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church blesses its followers with. The loving and devout Catholics that wrote these letters truly see no wrong in using such language and hate filled vulgar words when defending their Pope or his church. Regardless of the fact that Jesus told us...

"Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?" (Matthew 7:16)

Also understand that this is a VERY difficult thing for me to do. I don't want anyone getting the wrong idea here. I want it to be made perfectly clear that I am NOT slamming Catholics. If I were, why would my ministry be designed and geared 100% in the area of WARNING Catholics? I think it is obvious to anyone that has read my work that I truly do love and have a burden for Catholics. Plus understand that I do NOT believe that all Catholics are like these folks that have written me here. However, in the last few years since beginning the website I have only met THREE Catholics that showed genuine peace in their letters to me. That means 99% of all the hundreds of letters I have received "from Catholics" have indeed been negative to say the least. I presently have to date (7/01) well over 582 hate filled, vulgar, and violent, letters from Catholics in my "harassment" folder to date. However, that number was far greater before I was attacked some months back by a Catholic Priest that sent me a virus that deleted many of my files. I have since secured all that I have more carefully so as to assure this will not happen again.

Answer 3

Although I'm not religious, I would have to say that people's religious beliefs will affect their political beliefs. Let's take Christianity for example. They will vote for anyone who has the "righteousness" that's foreseen in the ten commandments. Also, they will use the similar mindset as punishing those who will not adhere to the law set forth by the people (civil) and those that are set forth Nationally. I don't have sources but according to the case study I have done, I noticed good portion of the religious people voted for Bush in 2004. And for the prior election, it was John McCain: he was adamantly standing for his Christian beliefs. So, it is without a doubt, that their personal belief will affect their political belief (I wish I did more homework before I posted this). As per the second question, I would consider that most religious people will eschew whatever their personal political beliefs one has because of their religious belief: that is to say that the Religious belief one espouse in will influence and become "the" official "word" or doctrine, whereby all beliefs will become nullified. And I have met countless of religious people who will say that their personal political belief should not come in their way of their religious belief that their religious belief ought to take the highest priority of all. Either those two paragraph are true or not is something for you to decide. I only gave one example for each though and no source makes my words somewhat lacking in substance. =(

Answer 4

Yes, my beliefs DO affect me politically. It's why I will not vote for anyone who supports abortion, euthanasia, or anything else that the Church condemns. The Church forms our moral conscious, which is what we use in every facet of our lives. It's only natural to rely on it even with political decisions.

God bless.

Answer 5

I am Catholic, and I let the moral teachings of my Church define my political stances. Therefore, I am traditional, in that I do not believe in the allegedly "enlighten" doctrine of the secular progressive.

Answer 6

Of course, as does nationality, age, economic status, gender, and life experience.

Here's one for you:

Liberals almost universally support the "right" of a woman to abort her child.

If you do, how do you reconcile that view with the Catholic Church's stated position that abortion is always wrong, and that one who would support abortion should not receive communion?

Answer 7

I'm Roman Catholic and I am very Pro-life. So I have been voting for Republicans because they have been electing Pro-life judges to the Supreme Court and what many Christians are suppose to be. I am against guns and I know Pres. Bush is for them. But I am active in Pro-life and teen counseling about sex education and post-abortion teenagers. I have my pros and cons and since there isn't one party that is Pro-God, I have to vote for the Pro-Life party. And pray for everything else to fall into place.

Answer 8

Of course. Your religious beliefs are the foundation of your morals. Can a person not vote in accordance with what he or she knows to be right, or wrong?

Answer 9

If I feel there is an issue involving morality I definitely take it seriously.
However, whether I am liberal or conservative depends on the issue.

Answer 10

Yes, I am Catholic in every aspect of my life; church, family, business, politics,...etc.

God bless.
Stanbo